The Google Pixel Tablet is a unique device with a bit of charm, and I hope that future sequels don’t give that up.
Google’s Pixel Tablet is a product that’s a bit outside of the norm, probably to its detriment, but in crafting upcoming sequels, I hope Google doesn’t lose the charm of the first generation.
The Pixel Tablet launched in mid-2023 to middling reception. While it’s fundamentally a good Android tablet, that’s not exactly a high bar to clear, and there are some clear issues. Google’s hardware isn’t as competitive with other high-end tablets like the iPad and Samsung’s Galaxy Tab lineup, with a lesser display and the Tensor G2 chip that’s well behind the competition. Plus, the lack of a real accessory ecosystem holds back the tablet from a huge collection of users.
That said, the past several months of using the Pixel Tablet more often have kept reminding me of the charm of this device.
I think with the first Pixel Tablet, Google really found a good way to build a tablet for the home, rather than one for the go. I’ve really enjoyed throwing on a movie on the tablet at my desk, only to pick the tablet up and walk into another room to cook, all while keeping that media going. Of course, you can do this with any tablet, but what gives that experience something special, at least for me, is how Google designed the Pixel Tablet.
Of course, there’s the dock, which boosts the speaker output dramatically and makes the tablet a genuinely nice place to consume media.
